Multi-Vessel Systems and Methods

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for a multi-vessel device generally comprises a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel and the first vessel may comprise a shot glass and the second vessel may comprise a bottle that contains a spirituous liquid. In an embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, or a screw. Alternatively, an interior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw. In some embodiments, the first vessel may couple to the second vessel so as to seal the second vessel. Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a method for manufacturing, packaging and/or selling the multi-vessel system or device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Purveyors of alcoholic beverages are accustomed to purchasing such goods in a limited number of forms. For example, beer products are generally purchased by the bottle or can. Wine is almost exclusively sold by the bottle, save the small number of wine products sold by the box, and packaged liquor is always sold by the bottle and usually within a decorative one.

To enjoy the alcoholic beverage, a user, unless drinking straight from the bottle or can, must locate a drinking vessel to pour the beverage. As disclosed by the present invention it is convenient and/or novel to the user if a drinking vessel could accompany a packaged alcoholic bottle or can. Thus, to address the need for such convenience and/or novelty, a drinking vessel, such as a shot glass, a wine glass, a beer mug and the like may be manufactured, packaged, marketed and/or sold that may be suitably coupled to the alcoholic bottle or can. It should be appreciated, though, that while the above discusses alcoholic beverages, the discussion is equally relevant and applicable to non-alcoholic beverages, for example, soda cans and bottles, water bottles, energy drink containers, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a multi-vessel drinking system comprising a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel. The first vessel may comprise a shot glass and the second vessel may comprise a bottle that contains a spirituous liquid. In an embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, or a screw. Alternatively, an interior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw. In some embodiments, the first vessel may couple to the second vessel so as to seal the second vessel.

In yet another embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may comprise a retractable armature, wherein the retractable armature may comprises at least one of a clip and a loop mechanism configured to couple the first vessel to the second vessel. And in still yet other embodiments, at least a third vessel may suitably couple to at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel. Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a method for manufacturing, packaging and/or selling the multi-vessel system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a drinking system comprising a first vessel coupled suitably coupled to a second vessel;

FIGS. 2A-2D representatively illustrate embodiments of the drinking system comprising an exterior bottom portion of a first vessel suitably coupled to a second vessel;

FIGS. 3A-3D representatively illustrate embodiments of the drinking system comprising an interior bottom portion of a first vessel suitably coupled to a second vessel;

FIG. 4 representatively illustrates the drinking system comprising a third vessel nested to the first vessel, which is suitably coupled to a second vessel;

FIG. 5 representatively illustrates the drinking system comprising a first vessel and a third vessel suitably coupled to the second vessel via armature elements;

FIG. 6 representatively illustrates the first vessel comprising a retractable armature element that may be housed by a recessed exterior bottom portion of the first vessel;

FIG. 7 representatively illustrates the drinking system comprising a first vessel integrated into the second vessel; and

FIG. 8 representatively illustrates a method of manufacturing a multi-vessel system.

Elements and/or method steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular construction or sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, elements that disclose embodiments of various devices or systems may be assembled in various fashions are illustrated in the figures to similarly help improve the understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be described herein in terms of various functional elements and various method steps. Such functional elements may be realized by any number of hardware components configured to perform specified functions and achieve various results. For example, the present invention may employ various vessel configurations to contain a consumable beverage, e.g., bottles and cans, as well as alternate drinking vessels to consume the beverage, e.g. shot glasses, wine glasses, mugs, and the like, which vessels may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in conjunction with any number of alcoholic, non-alcoholic, water, soda, or alternate beverage environments, and the systems and devices described are merely exemplary applications for the invention. Further, the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and selling the described systems and devices.

Various representative implementations of the present invention may be applied to any multi-vessel drinking system. Referring now to FIG. 1, a multi-vessel system 100 may comprise a first vessel 110 and a second vessel 120. In an embodiment, an exterior bottom portion 115 of first vessel 110 may suitably couple to a top portion 125 of the second vessel 120. In such an exemplary embodiment, first vessel 110 may comprise a shot glass, such as a typical 4 ounce shot glass, but first vessel 110 may comprise other drinking vessels, standard or otherwise. For example, first vessel 110 may comprise the shot glass, a wine glass, a beer mug, a martini glass, a champagne glass, and the like.

In this exemplary embodiment, second vessel 120 may comprise a beer bottle, such as a typical 12 ounce beer bottle, but second vessel 120 may comprise other types of bottles. For example, second vessel 120 may comprise the beer bottle, a wine bottle, a liquor bottle, a champagne bottle, a soda bottle, a water bottle, and the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2D, among various exemplary embodiments, first vessel 110 may suitably couple to second vessel 120 in any suitable manner that secures first vessel 110 to second vessel 120. For example, and with reference to FIG. 2A, first vessel 110 may suitably couple to second vessel 120 using a friction fit. In this manner, the exterior bottom portion 115 of first vessel 110 secures (snaps) over top portion 125 of second vessel 120 by directional forces indicated by direction arrows 230. In an alternate embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 2B, an exterior bottom portion 218 of first vessel 110 may comprise a configuration that may suitably couple to a bottle cap type configuration 225 of second vessel 120. In yet another alternative embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 2C, an exterior bottom portion 217 of first vessel 110 may comprise a stopper type configuration, such as a cork, rubber, plastic, glass, etc., type material, which secures to/within second vessel's 120 opening 227. In still yet another exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 2D, an exterior bottom portion 219 of first vessel 110 may comprise a twist top type configuration that secures to a mating screw configuration 229 of second vessel 120.

It should be appreciated that the suitable couplings illustrated by FIGS. 2A-2D are merely exemplary and any other suitable couplings now known or developed in the future fall within the ambit of this disclosure. Although not illustrated, first vessel may suitably couple to second vessel comprising various types of glues, strings, wires, armatures, hook and loops, snaps, magnetic couplings, electrical couplings, and the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-3D, among various exemplary embodiments, instead of the exterior bottom portion of first vessel 110 suitably coupling to the exterior top portion of second vessel 120 as described above and illustrated by FIGS. 2A-2D, an interior bottom portion 315 of a first vessel 310 may couple in any suitable manner that secures first vessel 310 to top portion 125 of second vessel 120. For example, and with reference to FIG. 3A, first vessel 310 may suitably couple to second vessel 120 using a friction fit. In this manner, the interior bottom portion 315 of first vessel 310 secures (snaps) over top portion 125 of second vessel 120 by directional forces indicated by direction arrows 330. In an alternate embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 3B, an interior bottom portion 318 of first vessel 310 may comprise a configuration that may suitably couple to a bottle cap type configuration 225 of second vessel 120. In yet another alternative embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 2C, an interior bottom portion 317 of first vessel 310 may comprise a stopper type configuration, such as a cork, rubber, plastic, glass, etc., type material, which secures to/within second vessel's 120 opening 227. In still yet another exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated by FIG. 3D, an interior bottom portion 319 of first vessel 310 may comprise a twist top type configuration that secures to a mating screw configuration 229 of second vessel 120.

As with FIGS. 2A-2D, it should likewise be appreciated that the suitable couplings illustrated by FIGS. 3A-3D are merely exemplary and any other suitable couplings now known or developed in the future fall within the ambit of this disclosure. Although not illustrated, the interior bottom portion of first vessel may suitably couple to second vessel comprising various types of glues, strings, wires, armatures, hook and loops, snaps, magnetic couplings, electrical couplings, and the like as well.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel as previously described by either an exterior or interior bottom portion, but in other embodiments the first vessel may operate to actually secure the top portion of the second vessel to enclose the contents of the second vessel. For example and with reference to FIGS. 2C and 3C it is evident that the respective stopper type elements 217 and 317 may be used to seal the opening of the second vessel's opening 227. Similarly, any of the other first vessel exemplary embodiments may operate and be used to secure the opening of the second vessel, for example, the exterior bottom portion 115 or interior bottom portion 315 of respective FIGS. 2A and 3A; the exterior bottom portion 218 or interior bottom portion 318 of respective FIGS. 2B and 3B; the exterior bottom portion 219 or interior bottom portion 319 of respective FIGS. 2D and 3D; as well as any other type of elements that may suitably couple an interior or exterior bottom portion of the first vessel to seal the opening of the second vessel.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, any exterior bottom portion of the first vessel, for example and with reference to FIG. 2, exterior bottom portions 115, 217, 218 and/or 219 may be used merely to couple the first vessel to the second vessel, but the bottom portions 115, 217, 218 and/or 219 may be also detachable from the first vessel so as to allow the first vessel to be used as a typical drinking vessel, which typically are devoid of such bottom portions as described herein.

Turning now to FIG. 4, in an exemplary embodiment a third vessel, such as third vessel 435, may suitably couple to first vessel 110 so as to provide more than a single drinking vessel, such as first vessel 110. Third vessel 435 may suitably couple to first vessel 110 by any manner herein described, and in one example, in a nesting fashion as illustrated by FIG. 4. It should further be appreciated that any number of vessels may be suitably coupled to first vessel 110, second vessel 120 and third vessel 435.

Turning now to FIG. 5, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, first vessel 510 may suitably couple to second vessel 120 via a coupling armature 550. Coupling armature 550 may loop completely about a neck 521 of second vessel 120. Alternately, instead of looping completely about the neck 521 of second vessel 120, a coupling armature 555 of a third vessel 511 may clip partially about the neck 521 of second vessel 120 for ease of removal. By the use of coupling armatures 550 and/or 555, any number of vessels may be coupled to neck 521 of second vessel 120. It should be appreciated that while armatures 550 and 555 suitably couple to neck 521 of second vessel 120, other coupling armatures may be configured to suitably couple to a body portion 560 of second vessel 120.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 5, coupling armatures 550 and/or 555 may be detachable from the first vessel 510 and/or the third vessel 511 so that the first and/or third vessel may be used without the hindrance of its coupled armature. In other embodiments though, and with reference to FIG. 6, coupling armature 550 may pivot via pivot mechanism 660 such that coupling armature 550 may rotate to reside within a recessed bottom portion 665 of first vessel 510. Similarly, coupling armature 555 may likewise pivot via a pivoting mechanism to house coupling armature 555 within a recessed bottom portion of third vessel 511 (not shown).

In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment and with reference to FIG. 7, a first vessel 710 may be suitably coupled to a second vessel 720 such that second vessel 720 may nest in an integrated fashion within the first vessel 710. In this manner, unlike the previous exemplary embodiments described herein, the dimensions of the first vessel 710 coupled to the second vessel 720 maintain an outer dimensional integrity consistent with a shape of a typical second vessel, such as a beer bottle, a wine bottle, a liquor bottle, and the like. And although the embodiment illustrated depicts the first vessel integrated to a bottom portion of the second vessel, any number of integrated embodiments ma fall within the ambit of this disclosure. For example, a first vessel may be integrated into a top portion of the second vessel (not shown).

Among the various exemplary embodiments described herein, particularly the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2, and/or 5 a first vessel my not merely comprise an empty vessel configured to be decoupled from the second vessel for subsequent filling of a beverage, but rather may comprise a sealed beverage within it. In this fashion, for example, a user may enjoy two separate beverages, i.e. a beer and a shot of liquor. Furthermore, in the embodiments that describe multi-vessels coupled to the second vessel, a user may enjoy a number of shots and/or cocktails. Alternately, the coupled vessels may comprise an amount of liquor and the second vessel may comprise the “mixer” to mix with it. In this manner a user may enjoy a number of cocktails, such as bloody mart's, wherein the coupled vessels comprise an amount of vodka liquor and the second vessel comprises a bloody mary mix; or the coupled vessels comprise an amount of tequila and the second vessel comprises a margarita mix to produce margaritas, etc.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of multi-vessels devices and systems and their method for manufacture, and with reference to FIG. 8, an exemplary method 800 for manufacturing comprises: providing a first vessel (a block 810); providing a second vessel (a block 820); and coupling the first vessel to the second vessel (a block 830). Method 800 may further comprise coupling at least a third vessel to the second vessel (a block 840). Providing the first vessel (the block 810) may comprise providing a first vessel that comprises an exterior bottom portion configured to suitably couple to a top portion of a second vessel, similar to first vessel 110 (FIGS. 1, 2A-2D and 4). Alternately, providing the first vessel (the block 810) may comprise providing a first vessel that comprises an interior bottom portion configured to couple to a top portion of a second vessel, similar to first vessel 310 (FIGS. 3A-3D). Providing the first vessel (the block 810) may further comprise providing a first vessel that may suitably couple to a second vessel via an armature, similar to first vessels 510 and/or 511 (FIG. 5). Providing the second vessel (the block 820) may comprise providing a second vessel similar to second vessel 120 (FIGS. 1-6) and/or second vessel 710 (FIG. 7). Coupling the first vessel to the second vessel (the block 830) may comprise coupling the first vessel to the second vessel as illustrated by the various embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-7. Coupling at least a third vessel to the second vessel (the block 840) may comprise may comprise coupling the third vessel to the second vessel as illustrated by the various embodiments depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Among the exemplary methods described herein, and although a particular order of actions is depicted in FIG. 8 (Method 800), these actions can be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, the example the actions depicted in FIG. 8 (Method 800) may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. For example, block 820 may be performed before or after block 810, block 840 may be performed before or after block 810 and block 830, etc. Other variations of exemplary methods are also contemplated by this disclosure, for example, a method of packaging the exemplary embodiments, a method of marketing the exemplary embodiments and/or a method of selling the exemplary embodiments.

The multi-vessel systems and methods described herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of exemplary embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. For example, other exemplary embodiments may comprise some, all, or a combination of the embodiments disclosed. For example, alternate embodiments may comprise a combination of some or all of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-7.

In the foregoing specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific multi-vessel exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and any modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.

For example, the steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus, device or system claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.

As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes”, “is” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, packaging elements, marketing efforts, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same. 

I claim:
 1. A device comprising: a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first vessel comprises a shot glass.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second vessel comprises a bottle.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bottle contains a spirituous liquid.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to a top portion of the second vessel.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the exterior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel comprising at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein an interior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to a top portion of the second vessel.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the interior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel comprising at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel comprises a retractable armature.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the retractable armature comprises at least one of a clip and a loop mechanism configured to couple the first vessel to a neck of the second vessel.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the neck of the second vessel comprises a circumference less than a circumference of a body portion of the second vessel.
 12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least a third vessel suitably coupled to at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel.
 13. An spirituous drinking system comprising: a shot glass; and a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, wherein the shot glass suitably couples to the bottle to seal the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle by at least one of a friction fit, a screw and a stopper.
 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
 16. The system according to claim 14, wherein an interior bottom portion of the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
 17. A method for manufacturing a multi-vessel device comprising: providing a first vessel; providing a second vessel; and coupling the first vessel to the second vessel.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first vessel comprises a shot glass and the second vessel comprises a bottle containing a spirituous liquid.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first vessel couples to the second vessel by at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein coupling the first vessel to the second vessel operates to seal contents of the second bottle. 